Close to Purr-fect: 2011 a 'No-Kill' Year for Animal Center

'Desperate Housecat' Petra has her own webpage. http://www.petharbor.com/pet.asp?uaid=ASTN.A611621

For some time, the city has hovered above the 90 percent “live outcomes” benchmark animal centers must meet annually to be a “no-kill” shelter. And now it’s official: With a 91 percent live outcome for all of 2011, the Austin Animal Center is now officially no-kill.

The city’s animal rescue efforts have made big strides over the last few years, first with City Council adoption of a no-kill plan [PDF], and more recently with the opening of the new Animal Services Center in East Austin.

When the animal center moved from its original Town Lake location, local rescue organization Austin Pets Alive! inked an agreement with the city to use the site temporarily as a satellite adoption center.

In a press release, Council Member Mike Martinez credits APA!, The Austin Humane Society, EmanciPet, Animal Trustees of Austin, “and dozens more, in addition to our very caring community and hundreds of volunteers and staff at the Austin Animal Center,” for helping the city reach its no-kill goals. “Austin could not have achieved and maintained this goal without them, so thank you Austin.”

Of course, you can always show your own support by adopting an animal of your own. The Austin Animal Center website has photos (and in many cases, videos) of the animals up for adoption.

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Since January, 90 percent of animals taken in at the Town Lake Animal Center were fostered out, adopted, given to a rescue group, or returned to their owners. The threshold for "no-kill" status is 90 percent.